TEAM HOLMES Ms. Forbush Utah Studies Advanced 2012 – 2013 Can be reached by email at christiana.forbush@canyonsdistrict.org Website: historyforbush.wikispaces.com MMSTeamHolmes.wikispaces.com
What it is? Utah is a state diverse in landscape and people. This course will investigate relationships between government and the people of Utah. Research, writing, problem solving, and critical and creative thinking skills will be developed as students are exposed to the unique history of Utah.
MYP: Midvale Middle School is an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme School. MYP helps students become critical thinkers, connects subject areas and allows students to apply their learning to the real world. Additional information can be found at www.ibo.org. MYP units will be taught throughout this course. A course outline detailing the main concepts of each MYP unit can be found on my wikispace. Supplies: A. Spiral Notebook- Students are required to keep all their class notes in a journal separate from other classes. I will randomly collect these notebooks. B. Pencil, Pen, and Dry Erase Marker C. Colored Pencils - Students are required to have a set of colored pencils. D.Folder – This will be used to hold work and assignments Grades
Academics Team Holmes students’ academic grades will be based on a MYP IB mastery grade system this year. For Utah Studies this means your assignments will be graded on a 8 point scale (8 = mastery and 1 = deficient). However, we are still required to give a letter grade for each class. Below is the Mastery Scale, Academic Translated Percentage, and Equivalent Letter Grade. Please do not panic about the percentages as this scale is not the traditional percentage system, it is merely a tool that is being used to translate our Mastery Grade to a Letter Grade.
Letter Grade
MYP Grade
Adjusted Percentage
A
8
100 - 87.1%
A -
7
87 - 75.1%
B+
6
75 - 62.1%
B
5
62 - 56.1%
B-
4.5
56 - 50.1%
C+
4
50 - 44.1%
C
3.5
44 - 37.1%
C-
3
37 - 31.1%
D+
2.5
31 - 25.1%
D
2
25 - 12.1%
D-
1
12 - 10.1%
F
0
10 - 0 %
40% of your grade will be based on Formative assessments (How are you progressing) and 60% of your grade will be based on Summative assessments (How well did you learn the material). In the following Criteria:
Criterion A
Knowledge and Understanding
Criterion B
Investigating
Criterion C
Thinking Critically
Criterion D
Communicating
Citizenship If you are naughty, tardy, or unprepared you will not be demonstrating good citizenship. Team Holmes members always demonstrate good citizenship.
*H (Honor) = No tardies, excellent behavior, excellent participation *S (Satisfactory) = 1 – 2 tardies, good behavior, good participation *N (Needs Improvement) = 3 – 4 tardies, fair behavior, fair participation *U (Unsatisfactory) = more than 4 tardies, poor behavior, poor participation Assignments: Include Notes, Tests, Quizzes, Projects and Learning Activities. They will be corrected and returned within one week of the due date. Homework will be assigned to help us delve further into our study of Utah. Please note: Other students may see your child’s work and may even see a score but will not know their grade.
Attendance Students need to attend class so they will be academically successful. Students who miss class for legitimate reasons and are marked as excused will be allowed to make up work.
Tardies Don’t be tardy. It is disrespectful and disruptive and there will be major consequences. You need to be in your seat and ready to do your starters by the time the bell finishes ringing.
Bullying: Bullying and harassment of any kind is absolutely not allowed in the classroom. School needs to be a safe environment where all students feel welcomed.
Late work If you have any missing assignments you can expect to spend one lunch period per week with the team teachers until your assignments are turned in!
Class Rules
Respect self, property, and others.
Honesty is EXPECTED.
No food or drink. (The only exception is a water bottle with WATER in it or treats given by the teacher.)
General life Rules 1. You should always write your first and last name on your assignments. 2. You should always do your best on your assignments. If I cannot read the assignment I will not grade it 3. Electronic devices are NOT to be used or seen during class time. This is your first warning. Devices will be taken away and given to the administration as a second warning. 4. Cheating results in an automatic 0 and NO makeup opportunities will be given. Plagiarism is cheating. Individual teachers will add personal definitions of cheating.
Video Policy: To bring history to life I utilize educational videos and video clips (PG and below). Please be aware that videos are a part of our curriculum and are very purposefully and carefully shown. If you have any concerns feel free to contact me. I will also send home permission slips for movies (PG)when we watch it in its entirety.
Last Words Students are welcomed to come see me before and after school/class for help. The best way for parents to reach me is by email. I encourage parental involvement and contact. I look forward to knowing you! My only desire is for each student to be successful. Please also make yourself familiar with my website, it is a wonderful resource for parents to know what is going on as well as a place where Students can get the work they missed in class or need to make up. Excellence is the goal!
Team Holmes Teachers: Forbush, Putnam, Stewart, & Tafili
Keep this disclosure in your folder for reference until the end of the year. You are responsible for knowing this information.
Ms. Forbush
Utah Studies Advanced
2012 – 2013
Can be reached by email at christiana.forbush@canyonsdistrict.org
Website: historyforbush.wikispaces.com
MMSTeamHolmes.wikispaces.com
What it is?
Utah is a state diverse in landscape and people. This course will investigate relationships between government and the people of Utah. Research, writing, problem solving, and critical and creative thinking skills will be developed as students are exposed to the unique history of Utah.
MYP:
Midvale Middle School is an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme School. MYP helps students become critical thinkers, connects subject areas and allows students to apply their learning to the real world. Additional information can be found at www.ibo.org. MYP units will be taught throughout this course.
A course outline detailing the main concepts of each MYP unit can be found on my wikispace.
Supplies:
A. Spiral Notebook- Students are required to keep all their class notes in a journal separate from other classes. I will randomly collect these notebooks.
B. Pencil, Pen, and Dry Erase Marker
C. Colored Pencils - Students are required to have a set of colored pencils.
D. Folder – This will be used to hold work and assignments
Grades
Academics
Team Holmes students’ academic grades will be based on a MYP IB mastery grade system this year. For Utah Studies this means your assignments will be graded on a 8 point scale (8 = mastery and 1 = deficient). However, we are still required to give a letter grade for each class. Below is the Mastery Scale, Academic Translated Percentage, and Equivalent Letter Grade. Please do not panic about the percentages as this scale is not the traditional percentage system, it is merely a tool that is being used to translate our Mastery Grade to a Letter Grade.
40% of your grade will be based on Formative assessments (How are you progressing) and 60% of your grade will be based on Summative assessments (How well did you learn the material). In the following Criteria:
Citizenship
If you are naughty, tardy, or unprepared you will not be demonstrating good citizenship. Team Holmes members always demonstrate good citizenship.
* H (Honor) = No tardies, excellent behavior, excellent participation
* S (Satisfactory) = 1 – 2 tardies, good behavior, good participation
* N (Needs Improvement) = 3 – 4 tardies, fair behavior, fair participation
* U (Unsatisfactory) = more than 4 tardies, poor behavior, poor participation
Assignments:
Include Notes, Tests, Quizzes, Projects and Learning Activities. They will be corrected and returned within one week of the due date. Homework will be assigned to help us delve further into our study of Utah. Please note: Other students may see your child’s work and may even see a score but will not know their grade.
Attendance
Students need to attend class so they will be academically successful. Students who miss class for legitimate reasons and are marked as excused will be allowed to make up work.
Tardies
Don’t be tardy. It is disrespectful and disruptive and there will be major consequences. You need to be in your seat and ready to do your starters by the time the bell finishes ringing.
Bullying:
Bullying and harassment of any kind is absolutely not allowed in the classroom. School needs to be a safe environment where all students feel welcomed.
Late work
If you have any missing assignments you can expect to spend one lunch period per week with the team teachers until your assignments are turned in!
Class Rules
General life Rules
1. You should always write your first and last name on your assignments.
2. You should always do your best on your assignments. If I cannot read the assignment I will not grade it
3. Electronic devices are NOT to be used or seen during class time. This is your first warning. Devices will be taken away and given to the administration as a second warning.
4. Cheating results in an automatic 0 and NO makeup opportunities will be given. Plagiarism is cheating. Individual teachers will add personal definitions of cheating.
Video Policy:
To bring history to life I utilize educational videos and video clips (PG and below). Please be aware that videos are a part of our curriculum and are very purposefully and carefully shown. If you have any concerns feel free to contact me. I will also send home permission slips for movies (PG)when we watch it in its entirety.
Last Words
Students are welcomed to come see me before and after school/class for help. The best way for parents to reach me is by email. I encourage parental involvement and contact. I look forward to knowing you!
My only desire is for each student to be successful.
Please also make yourself familiar with my website, it is a wonderful resource for parents to know what is going on as well as a place where Students can get the work they missed in class or need to make up.
Excellence is the goal!
Team Holmes Teachers:
Forbush, Putnam, Stewart, & Tafili
Keep this disclosure in your folder for reference until the end of the year. You are responsible for knowing this information.